SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Buena Produces a Real Gem, 70-31

George Corisis, Palmdale High’s off-campus coach, makes his living mining gold. A pretty good living at that.

However, it was opponent Buena which continually hit pay dirt Saturday night in the Division I-A quarterfinals.

Buena scored 19 of the first 20 points on its way to a 70-31 rout of the Falcons at Palmdale.

The Bulldogs (22-2) will meet Chino on Tuesday in the semifinals, the ninth year in a row they have advanced at least that far.

Corisis knew all about the tradition.

“I thought they’d beat us by about 15, perhaps less if we played really great,” he said. “I’m shocked by this score.”

Not many teams have beaten the Falcons on their home court, much less bury them.

Palmdale (21-4) had not lost a home playoff game since 1987 and had lost only five times at home in the last six seasons.

Not many teams as good as Buena have visited, however.

The Bulldogs, ranked third in the state and seeded No. 1 in the division, ended the Falcons’ 14-game win streak by defeating their 20th consecutive opponent.

And it happened quickly.

Buena, the defending champion, shot 50% or better in every quarter and finished 33 of 59 from the field. Palmdale, the Golden League champion, made only 12 of 53 shots.

Junior guard Kori Sebek scored 15 points and Eboni Conley added 14 for Buena. Ten Bulldogs scored.

Kristi Rose, Palmdale’s 6-foot-4 center, has been her team’s go-to player all season. She scored 18 points, but made only seven of 21 shots and was not a factor on the boards.

Buena got a late scare when Kara Newman, a key defensive player, suffered a gash over her right eye in the fourth quarter during a scrap for a loose ball. She did not return.